The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-08
CONVICT COMPTON.
An Escaped Penitentiary Prisoner
Leads q Strange Career.
From the Anniston Hot Blast.

gentleman who lives at Eden, in st. Clair
county, and from whom was obtained the
story of the life Of one of Alabama's present
members of the lower house of the Legisla-
ture, which reads like chapter from the
career of William Kissane, whose strange
life has recently been brought to public
gaze in all its hideOus deformitieS
The story is equally as startling, and will
prove equally as full of strange denouements
and episodes
The gentleman who told it to the reporter
did SO only with the understanding that his
name was not to appear in print, but that
fact does not detract one whit from the
credibility of the story. Said the gontle-
man:
THE STORY
''When moved to Eden, st. Clair coun-
ty, some three years ago, found as Mar
shall of the town one Josephus Compton.
He was man of family, some As years of
age, and stood well in the community He
had come to the place a year or so prs vious
to my advent, and began work as a carpen-
moved to Eden, but think he said
rate, as he proved good citizen, there We're
no curious inquiries into his past life. In
common with everybody else in the quiet
little town Marshal Compton pursued the
even tenor of his way, taking an active and
somewhat prominent part in public matters
and on all public occasions. Compton could
talk pretty well, and when any speech MAX
ing was to be done he was generally on hand
to do it. He
JOINED THE METHODIST CHURCH,
and soon became a most jealous member.
His voice was more and more frequently
heard in the prayer meeting and at love
feasts, and ne soon became powerful ex-
horter. He grew rapidly in favor with the
Presiding Elders of that district, and seemed
to be growing in grace all the time. His
ascent was rapid, and from being lay
member exhorter he became licensed min
lister of the gospel in the Methodist church.
In his new field and with his enlarged func-
tons and opportunities he just spread him
self and gave promise Of being a successful
worker in that part of the Lords vineyard.
TURNS POLITICIAN.
"Last year Compton, believing that his
obligations and duties as q minister did not
prevent his serving the people in a secular
capacity, concluded to enter the political
arena, and did soby joining the Independent
party, which sprang up in our county He
was one OF the leading spirits Of that party,
and they selected him as their candidate for
the Legislature. The clerical politician
threw his whole soul into the can
from the jump Some of the best
stump speakers in this section and the State
were pitted against him, but he was elected
by 500 maiority, although there is a Demo
cratic majority in the county. That shows
the popularity of Compton at that time. He
isn't near so popular now, and his party
friends are mourning his sudden departure
from the county"
"Has the honorable gentleman fled the
country"
He certainly has, and on account of the
most startling disclosures of his past life
I'll tell the story to You as have been able
to gather up its many threads: Compton,
whose right name is
JosEPHUs CASTOR,
is native of North Carolina, in which
State he is badly wanted for a heinous
crime, committed several years ago This
man CASTOR was distiller of moonshine
whisky in one of the mountain counties of
that State. One day he and his
of revenue officers. A fight en-
sued and one of the officers was shot
dead. 1t is said that CASTOR did the killing
At any rate he was arrested, tried, con-
victed and sentenced to a term of twenty
four years i'll the penitentiary. -Four Of
these years of penal service he put in, but
firing of that kind of life, he made a break
y.
That was thirteen years ago, and not until
about a month ago was his whereabouts
discovered, so successfully did he cover up
his tracks.
CASTOR WANDERED
through several States and finally settled at
Eden, in st. Clair county, as | have before
stated The discovery of the escaped
convict was by the merest chance 1t hap
pened in this way: One day a bridge gang
foreman on the Talladega and Coosa Valley
road, now building happened to pass by a
gang of laborerS at work on a grade near
Eden. This gang was bossed by Compton,
or CASTOR, rather, who had taken a
grading contract on that line. The
foreman had once been guard at
the North Carolina penitentiary, and
was there in that capacity when CASTOR
was brought to it, He Immediately recog-
nized the escaped convict, and at once com
municated his discovery to the North Caro-
lima authorities CASTOR did not recognize
his old guard, and the latter gave no hint of
what he had done. A requisition was sent
on from the Governor of North Carolina to
the Sheriff of jefferson county, at Birming-
ham, for Caston's return to his old quarters
but before the Sheriff could arrest the fell
low he had skipped out"
GLOW did CASTOR, or Compton, learn Of
the intended arrestm
"Well, 1 guess Internationally gave him
the information. got letter last Wednes-
day week ago from a friend in Birming-
ham, which told me about the requisition
| having been received by the Sheriff. The
| afternoon of the same day that I received
the letter CASTOR came up into Eden, as his
won't, and / took him one side and told him
OF the contents of the letter. He didn't
deny having been in the penitentiary, or of
having escaped, from it, but said that he did
not kill the officer; that it was another man
who did it. CASTOR was
IN HIS SHIRT SLEEVES
at the time, and started Off in the direction
of his home He lived in the town, having
wife and four children. He had left his
coat out ON the grade, but he did not go
after it, nor did he go to his house. He just
walked out Of the town, and is walking yet,
] reckon. That is the last he has been seen
or heard of in that section. / forgot to
mention the fact that a photograph of Cas-
ton had been sent on from North Carolina,
with the requisition papers, and that it is a
true likeness of the Representative from st.
Clair county"
HIS LEGISLATIVE CAREER.
As legislator, Compton cut poor figure.
He was clearly beyond his depth, and was
easily influenced to vote yea or nay TO suit
the wishes of more astute members. His
stay in Montgomery was one continued
drunken debauch, and he was kicked out Of
one clearinghouse on account Of his filthy
habits and unbearablo conduct.
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